Germicidal protective mask with ultraviolet light emitting diodes

ABSTRACT

A support has an interior section positionable on one side of a wearer&#39;s head. The support has an exterior section positionable over the wearer&#39;s face. The exterior section has a free end with a recess. A plurality of light emitters is located in the recess and adapted to function within the germicidal spectrum for air. An electrical assembly is coupled to the light emitters. A shield of light is formed adjacent to the wearer&#39;s nose and mouth. When the wearer breathes air, the breathed air becomes sanitized by the passage of pathogens through a curtain of light immediately prior to being breathed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a germicidal protective maskultraviolet light emitting diodes and more particularly pertains tosanitizing air immediately prior to being breathed by a wearer, thesanitizing being done in a safe, reliable, efficient and economicalmanner.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of protective masks of known designs and configurations is knownin the prior art. More specifically, protective masks of known designsand configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose ofsanitizing air before being breathed by a wearer through known methodsand apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected,and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad ofdesigns encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developedfor the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,207 issued Jul. 22, 2003 toMcDonald relates to an Oxygen Diffuser for Patient Oxygen DeliverySystem. U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,706 issued Feb. 17, 2004 to Ives relates toa Personal Humidifier. U.S. Pat. No. 7,523,750 issued Apr. 28, 2009relates to a Breathing Respirator. Lastly, U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication Number 2008/0232092 published Sep. 25, 2008 to Carterrelates to a LED Cap Light.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives andrequirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a germicidalprotective mask ultraviolet light emitting diodes that allows forsanitizing air immediately prior to being breathed by a wearer, thesanitizing being done in a safe, reliable, efficient and economicalmanner.

In this respect, the germicidal protective mask ultraviolet lightemitting diodes according to the present invention substantially departsfrom the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and indoing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose ofsanitizing air immediately prior to being breathed by a wearer, thesanitizing being done in a safe, reliable, efficient and economicalmanner.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need fora new and improved germicidal protective mask ultraviolet light emittingdiodes which can be used for sanitizing air immediately prior to beingbreathed by a wearer, the sanitizing being done in a safe, reliable,efficient and economical manner. In this regard, the present inventionsubstantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofprotective masks of known designs and configurations now present in theprior art, the present invention provides an improved germicidalprotective mask ultraviolet light emitting diodes. As such, the generalpurpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequentlyin greater detail, is to provide a new and improved germicidalprotective mask ultraviolet light emitting diodes and method which hasall the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a germicidalprotective mask ultraviolet light emitting diodes. First provided is asupport. The support has an interior section. The interior section ispositionable on one side of a wearer's head. The support has an exteriorsection. The exterior section extends from the interior section. Theexterior section is positionable over the wearer's face. The exteriorsection has a forked free end. The exterior section has an upperhorizontal leg and a parallel lower leg. The legs are spaced. In thismanner a passageway is formed for the flow of air into the wearer'smouth. A downwardly facing recess is formed in the upper leg. Anupwardly facing recess is formed in the lower leg.

A linear adjustment mechanism is provided. The linear adjustmentmechanism couples the interior and exterior sections. The linearadjustment mechanism includes a linear passageway. The linear passagewayis formed in the exterior section. A linear projection is formed in theinterior section. The linear projection is slidably received in thelinear passageway. A plurality of linearly aligned holes is formed inthe linear passageway. A ball is provided. The ball is resilientlysupported in the linear projection. The ball is selectively receivedwithin one of the holes. In this manner the length of the support may bevaried.

Provided next is an inverted hook. The hook has a lower end. The hookhas an upper end. The hook has a central extent. The hook ispositionable over an ear of the wearer.

A rotary adjustment mechanism is provided next. The rotary adjustmentmechanism couples the hook and the interior section. The rotaryadjustment mechanism includes a first circular face. The first circularface is formed on the upper end of the hook. The rotary adjustmentmechanism includes a second circular face. The second circular face isformed on the interior section of the support remote from the linearcoupling mechanism. The rotary adjustment mechanism includes a pivotpin. The pivot pin rotatably supports the first and second circularfaces.

Further provided is a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes.The light emitting diodes are located in the upwardly and downwardlyfacing recesses of the legs.

Provided last is an electrical assembly. The electrical assemblyincludes a housing. The housing has batteries. The housing has an on/offswitch. The electrical assembly includes electrical lines. Theelectrical lines extend from the batteries through the hook and thesupport to the light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes, whenenergized, are adapted to form a shield of ultraviolet light over thewearer's nose and mouth. In this manner when the wearer breathes air,the breathed air will become sanitized by passage of pathogens through acurtain of ultraviolet light immediately prior to being breathed, thefirst circular face having first electrical contacts and the secondcircular face having second electrical contacts, the electrical contactsallowing the flow of current to the light emitting diodes whenpositioned over the wearer's mouth and nose. The electrical contactsterminate the flow of current to the light emitting diodes when pivotedaway from the wearer's mouth and nose.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved germicidal protective mask ultraviolet light emitting diodeswhich has all of the advantages of the prior art protective masks ofknown designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved germicidal protective mask ultraviolet light emitting diodeswhich may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved germicidal protective mask ultraviolet light emitting diodeswhich is of durable and reliable constructions.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved germicidal protective mask ultraviolet light emitting diodeswhich is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to bothmaterials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of lowprices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such germicidalprotective mask ultraviolet light emitting diodes economically availableto the buying public.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide agermicidal protective mask ultraviolet light emitting diodes forsanitizing air immediately prior to being breathed by a wearer, thesanitizing being done in a safe, reliable, efficient and economicalmanner.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved germicidal protective mask light emitters. A support has aninterior section positionable on one side of a wearer's head. Thesupport has an exterior section positionable over the wearer's face. Theexterior section has a free end with a recess. A plurality of lightemitters is located in the recess and adapted to function within thegermicidal spectrum for air. An electrical assembly is coupled to thelight emitters. A shield of light is formed adjacent to the wearer'snose and mouth. When the wearer breathes air, the breathed air becomessanitized by the passage of pathogens through a curtain of lightimmediately prior to being breathed.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a germicidal protective maskultraviolet light emitting diodes with ultraviolet light emitting diodessystem constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the system taken along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an alternate embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a final alternate embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout thevarious Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof,the preferred embodiment of the new and improved germicidal protectivemask ultraviolet light emitting diodes embodying the principles andconcepts of the present invention and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

The present invention, the germicidal protective mask ultraviolet lightemitting diodes (10) is comprised of a plurality of components. Suchcomponents in their broadest context include a support, a plurality ofultraviolet light emitting diodes, and an electrical assembly. Suchcomponents are individually configured and correlated with respect toeach other so as to attain the desired objective.

First provided is a support (14). The support has an interior section(16). The interior section is positionable on one side of a wearer'shead. The support has an exterior section (18). The exterior sectionextends from the interior section. The exterior section is positionableover the wearer's face. The exterior section has a forked free end (20).The exterior section has an upper horizontal leg and a parallel lowerleg. The legs are spaced. In this manner a passageway is formed for theflow of air into the wearer's mouth. A downwardly facing recess isformed in the upper leg. An upwardly facing recess is formed in thelower leg.

A linear adjustment mechanism (32) is provided. The linear adjustmentmechanism couples the interior and exterior sections. The linearadjustment mechanism includes a linear passageway (34). The linearpassageway is formed in the exterior section. A linear projection (36)us formed in the interior section. The linear projection is slidablyreceived in the linear passageway. A plurality of linearly aligned holes(38) is formed in the linear passageway. A ball (40) is provided. Theball is resiliently supported in the linear projection. The ball isselectively received within one of the holes. In this manner the lengthof the support may be varied.

Provided next is an inverted hook (44). The hook has a lower end (46).The hook has an upper end (48). The hook has a central extent (50). Thehook is positionable over an ear of the wearer.

A rotary adjustment mechanism (54) is provided next. The rotaryadjustment mechanism couples the hook and the interior section. Therotary adjustment mechanism includes a first circular face (56). Thefirst circular face is formed on the upper end of the hook. The rotaryadjustment mechanism includes a second circular face (58). The secondcircular face is formed on the interior section (16) of the support (14)remote from the linear coupling mechanism. The rotary adjustmentmechanism includes a pivot pin (60). The pivot pin rotatably supportsthe first and second circular faces.

Further provided is a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes(64). The light emitting diodes are located in the upwardly anddownwardly facing recesses of the legs.

Provided last is an electrical assembly (68). The electrical assemblyincludes a housing (70). The housing has batteries (72). The housing hasan on/off switch (74). The electrical assembly includes electrical lines(76). The electrical lines extend from the batteries through the hook(44) and the support (14) to the light emitting diodes. The lightemitting diodes, when energized, are adapted to form a shield ofultraviolet light over the wearer's nose and mouth. In this manner whenthe wearer breathes air, the breathed air will become sanitized bypassage of pathogens through a curtain of ultraviolet light immediatelyprior to being breathed, the first circular face having first electricalcontacts (78) and the second circular face having second electricalcontacts (80), the electrical contacts allowing the flow of current tothe light emitting diodes when positioned over the wearer's mouth andnose. The electrical contacts terminate the flow of current to the lightemitting diodes when pivoted away from the wearer's mouth and nose.

Reference is now made to the alternate embodiment (100) of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this embodiment, the support (104)includes a resilient strap (106). The resilient strap is positioned overthe wearer's head. The free end of the exterior section is shaped as ashield (108) positionable over the wearer's mouth and nose. The shieldhas an upwardly facing recess (110) supporting the light emitting diodes(112) beneath the wearer's mouth.

Reference is now made to the alternate embodiment (200) of the inventionillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this embodiment, the support (204)includes a cap (206). The cap is positioned on the wearer's head. Thefree end of the exterior section is shaped as a shield (208). The shieldis positionable over the wearer's mouth and nose. The shield has adownwardly facing recess (210) supporting the light emitting diodes(212) above the wearer's nose.

In the preferred embodiment, the light emitters are light emittingdiodes and the curtain of light is ultraviolet light (UVC). Thepreferred wavelength for the light is commonly centered around 253.7 nmwith a window of 240 to 270 nm to be effective on the airbornegermicidal irradiation curve. In a final alternate embodiment of theinvention, the light emitting diodes are replaced with mercury vaporpressure lamps for the same ultraviolet effect.

As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, thesame should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, nofurther discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will beprovided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by LettersPatent of the United States is as follows:
 1. A protective mask adaptedto emit light comprising: a support having an interior sectionpositionable on one side of a wearer's nose and mouth and an exteriorsection positionable over the wearer's nose and mouth, the exteriorsection having a free end with a recess; a plurality of light emitterslocated in the recess and adapted to function within the germicidalspectrum for air; and an electrical assembly coupled to the lightemitters to form a shield curtain of light adjacent to the wearer's noseand mouth for the passage of unfiltered ambient air through the curtainof light into the wearer's nose and mouth whereby when the wearerbreathes air, the breathed air will become sanitized by the passage ofpathogens through the curtain of light immediately prior to beingbreathed; wherein the free end of the exterior section is fork shapedwith an upper horizontal leg and a parallel lower leg, the legs beingseparated to form a space constituting a passageway for the flow of airinto the wearer's mouth, a downwardly facing recess formed in the upperleg and an upwardly facing recess formed in the lower leg, the recessessupporting the light emitters.
 2. The mask as set forth in claim 1wherein the light emitters are light emitting diodes.
 3. The mask as setforth in claim 1 wherein the curtain of light is ultraviolet light. 4.The mask as set forth in claim 1 wherein the light emitters are mercuryvapor pressure lamps.
 5. The mask as set forth in claim 1 and furtherincluding a hook operatively coupled to the support and removablypositionable over an ear of the wearer.
 6. The mask as set forth inclaim 1 and further including a linear adjustment mechanism for varyingthe length of the support.
 7. The mask as set forth in claim 1 andfurther including a rotary adjustment mechanism for varying the angularorientation of the support.
 8. The mask as set forth in claim 7 whereinthe rotary adjustment mechanism includes a first circular face havingfirst electrical contacts and a second circular face having secondelectrical contacts, the first electrical contacts and the secondelectrical contacts allowing the flow of current to the light emitterswhen positioned over the wearer's mouth and nose, the first electricalcontacts and the second electrical contacts terminating the flow ofcurrent to the light emitters when pivoted away from the wearer's mouthand nose.
 9. The mask (100) as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support(104) includes a resilient strap (106) positioned over the wearer'shead.
 10. The mask as set forth in claim 1 wherein the free end of theexterior section is shaped as a shield (108) positionable over thewearer's mouth and nose, the shield having an upwardly facing recess(110) supporting the light emitters (112) beneath the wearer's mouth.11. The mask (200) as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support (204)includes a cap (206) positioned on the wearer's head.
 12. The mask asset forth in claim 1 wherein the free end of the exterior section isshaped as a shield (208) positionable over the wearer's mouth nose, theshield having a downwardly facing recess (210) supporting the lightemitters (212) above the wearer's nose.
 13. A germicidal protective maskultraviolet light emitting diodes (10) with ultraviolet light emittingdiodes for sanitizing air immediately prior to being breathed by awearer, the system comprising, in combination: a support (14) having aninterior section (16) positionable on one side of a wearer's head and anexterior section (18) extending from the interior section andpositionable over the wearer's face, the exterior section having aforked free end (20) with an upper horizontal leg and a parallel lowerleg, the legs being spaced to form a passageway for the flow of air intothe wearer's mouth, a downwardly facing recess formed in the upper legand an upwardly facing recess formed in the lower leg, a linearadjustment mechanism (32) coupling the interior and exterior sections,the linear adjustment mechanism including a linear passageway (34)formed in the exterior section and a linear projection (36) formed inthe interior section, the linear projection being slidably received inthe linear passageway, a plurality of linearly aligned holes (38) formedin the linear passageway and a ball (40) resiliently supported in thelinear projection, the ball being selectively received within one of theholes to vary the length of the support; an inverted hook (44) formedwith a lower end (46) and an upper end (48) and a central extent (50)positionable over an ear of the wearer; a rotary adjustment mechanism(54) coupling the hook and the interior section, the rotary adjustmentmechanism including a first circular face (56) formed on the upper endof the hook, the rotary adjustment mechanism including a second circularface (58) formed on the interior section (16) of the support (14) remotefrom the linear coupling mechanism, a pivot pin (60) rotatablysupporting the first and second circular faces; a plurality ofultraviolet light emitting diodes (64) located in the upwardly anddownwardly facing recesses of the legs and adapted to function withinthe germicidal spectrum for air; and an electrical assembly (68)including a housing (70) with batteries (72) and an on/off switch (74),electrical lines (76) extending from the batteries through the hook (44)and the support (14) to the light emitting diodes, the light emittingdiodes when energized adapted to form a curtain of ultraviolet lightover the wearer's nose and mouth whereby when the wearer breathes air,the breathed air will become sanitized by passage of pathogens through acurtain of ultraviolet light immediately prior to being breathed, thefirst circular face having first electrical contacts (78) and the secondcircular face having second electrical contacts (80), the firstelectrical contacts and the second electrical contacts allowing the flowof current to the light emitting diodes when positioned over thewearer's mouth and nose, the first electrical contacts and the secondelectrical contacts terminating the flow of current to the lightemitting diodes when pivoted away from the wearer's mouth and nose. 14.A germicidal protective mask (10) with ultraviolet light emitting diodesfor sanitizing air immediately prior to being breathed by a wearer, thesystem comprising, in combination: a support (14) having an interiorsection (16) positionable on one side of a wearer's head and an exteriorsection (18) extending from the interior section and positionable over awearer's face, the exterior section having a forked free end (20) withan upper horizontal leg and a parallel lower leg, the legs being spacedto form a passageway for the flow of unfiltered air into the wearer'smouth, a downwardly facing recess formed in the upper leg and anupwardly facing recess formed in the lower leg, a plurality ofultraviolet light emitting diodes (64) located in the upwardly facingrecess and the downwardly facing recess of the legs and adapted tofunction within the germicidal spectrum for air; and an electricalassembly (68) including a housing (70) with batteries (72) and an on/offswitch (74) and electrical lines (76) extending from the batteries tothe light emitting diodes, the light emitting diodes when energizedadapted to form a curtain of ultraviolet light over the wearer's noseand mouth whereby when the wearer breathes air, the breathed air willbecome sanitized by passage of pathogens through a curtain ofultraviolet light immediately prior to being breathed.